The Canadian pulled off the upset of the tournament beating the defending champion in three tough sets.
Leylah Fernandez scored the biggest win of her career so far on Arthur Ashe Stadium under the bright New York lights beating the defending champion and world number three Naomi Osaka in three sets 5-7, 7-6, 6-4.
“I just went through the day like another day at the office and I am happy to get the win and now I am to the next round and let’s enjoy this win and go back on court and have fun again.”
The Montreal native reached the fourth round of a major for the first time in her career. The 18-year old hit 28 winners and served six aces in a match that lasted two hours and four minutes.
The first set was a close affair with neither player giving an inch on their service games until 5-5 when the world number three earned the first three breakpoints of the match and broke which was enough for her to serve out the first set.
The second set was a carbon copy of the first with both players holding serve until 5-5 when Osaka broke once again at the same juncture to take a 6-5 lead. This time the world number 73 was able to break back the following game and force a tiebreaker.
That’s when the Canadian went into full domination winning five points in a row and ended up winning the breaker 7-2 and taking the second and forcing a third and decisive set.
The Montreal native kept the momentum going into the third set holding her opening service game and getting the early break to take a 2-0 lead and that break was enough for her to serve out the match.
After the match in her on-court interview, Fernandez was asked how she faced being a set and a breakdown and how she was able to fight back and get the win.
“I was just staying positive and every return game I was finding solutions and trying to figure her serve out and I guess I waited till the very last minute to figure it out and it paid off.”
It doesn’t get any easier for the young Canadian as she will now face Angelique Kerber in the fourth round.
